The Irish standard., 1887-03-26
TIE ALPINE REPUBLIC.
A Condensed History of the Struggle ar4
Final Triumph of o Brave People.

tensely interesting article on the SWlsa
Republic to recent number OF the Ch0W
.auqaa, in the course of which he remarks
The history of Switzerland is perhaps, less
familiar to the average American student
than that of most European nations. Grad
ually brought into subsection OF Rome.
Switzerland for many centuries remained
province known as Eeiveta, and re-
ceived to a considerable extent the laws,
customs and civilization OF its conquerors.
Traces of the Roman dominion are left in
many names Of places and in the Romano
dialect still sp TX, IN in some sections.
In the second, third and fourth centuries
the country was repeatedly invaded by the
Germans, and the Roman element OF the
population largely disappeared. In the
sixth century the Franks Incorporated
Switzerland with their ngdom, and the
Christian religion became prevalent In
the ninth century, under the weak re gn
Of Charles the Fat, the northern cantons
became part OF the German Empire.
The crusades greatly lessened the power
of the German nobility, and SO increased
the prosperity and influence OF the Swiss
towns Us TO make the German yoke CALLING.
Three cantons, whose inhabitants are
bel eyed to ha e descended from
always some measure Of free lon, was
under control of a Count Of Hapsburg.
This circumstance led to an attempt to in.
corporate the Swiss with Austria, and
thus precpitated the struggle which ended
in seyer;ng the connection Of Switzerland
with Germany.
10 this period Of the struggle for indie
pencience belongs the legend of William
He'll. Failing to show the required rever-
once for Gessler, the Austrian .bailif III
the town Of Kussnacht, Tell was senten ced
to deuth the only condition OF release be.
ing that he should shoot an apple from his
sons head. The shot Was successful
Gesslcr demanded the purpose Of second
arrow in his culver. Tell replied: "To
kill you il l had harmed my SON." Again
he was taken into custody, and Gessler
embarked with him for Kussnacht. A
storm arose, AMI Tell was set at liberty
that he might guide the boat. While
rounding 81 dangerous point he sprang
ashore, eludeG his pursuers, and succeeded
in il hicting a mortal wound upon Gessler.
A general uprising followed; the Aus,
tran oaliffs were driven from the several
c;lntons, and their castles demolished.
ouch is the story as embodied by Schiller
ia his drama
Tho traveller is shown the rock on the
shore OF The lake Of the -Four Forest Can.
tons wheIe Tell ieaped from Gessiers boat
On the opposite side Of the lake stands an
imposing rock inscribed to Schiller, the
Bard of Yell'' The whole region round
about is full OF scenes Of the exploits OF
this legendary hero of the Swiss.
One by one the cantons joined the league
One Of the original three (Schwytz) gave
Il name to the people and to the country,
and it's colors (red and Whitley became the
natioua ensign. At the peace Of West
phalia, in 1913, the independence OF Swift
zerland was formally recognized. Then
for the first time Germany gave up all
claim upon her as part of the German
Empire.
Until the outbreak Of the French revolu-
ton the peace OF the country was undis-
turhed save by occasional internal COLI
flicts, caused by religious differences and
by the olegarchic pretentions of the rulers
in some of the can tons.
In 1898 French armies, with reasonable
pretext, marched into Swiss territory and
attempted to force o new constitution upon
the country, providing for closer union,
and greatly changing the number and di-
vision of the cantons. Upon the withdrawal
of the French troops, in 1902, the country
arose in revolt and assembled a diet
France again interfered, the uprising was
checked, and Bonaparte cOnvoked meet
ing Of Swiss deputies at Paris to reorgan-
ize the Government A compromise con-
stitution was submitted, under which the
country enjoyed ten years Of peace. An
attempt on on the part Of Bern and several
other cantons to secede gave rise to civil
brons, and led to the adoption, by the Fed
eral Diet, in 1915, of the present cons IT'LL
ton.
Since then liberal can tonal reforms have
been in troduced in about two thirds of the
country.
The protracted conflicts in which Switz-
erlani was for 81 long time engaged inspired
the people with such a love OF warfare
that many have served as mercenaries in
foreign armies, and have earned the CUES
tionable reputation Of being most valiant
defenders of whatever cause they have
espousei--whether that OF oppressor Or
oppressed.
The Lion OF Lucerne: one OF the most ia
NOUS aud impressive of monuments, was
carved by Thorwaldsen in the side Of a cliff
OF rock in memory of the Swiss Guard who
persisted in defending the palace Of tho
Tuilleries against Il Paris mob during the
revolution OF 1892. The colossal lion with
a spear i'll his side, and with the French
JRe,s1- de-lis between his paws, is slowly sink
ing down into ueath-untlinching brave
and faithful, but overpowered.
Switzerland is a republic without Pres
ident It's Government is vested in q. Fed
eral Council, a National Council and a
Council Of States The first named is the
executive Of the nation. 1t consists Of
seven members chosen for term of three
years by the National Council and the
Council of States in joint session. They
divide among themselves the seven Depart
ments OF Foreign Affairs, of the Post and
Telegraphs, of Justice and Police, Of FL
nance, of War, Of the Interior, and of Com
MERGE and Duties, each member taking
one department and being at the same time
the substitute in second department.
The Federal Assembly executes all Leg
islative functions. 1t is made up of two
houses-the National Council and the
Council of States The National Council
consists of deputies of the people in the ra-
ito of about one to every twenty thousand
persons, so that every canton and every
half canton has the right of
electing at least one councillor. The Ma
tional Council is elected for three years,
and every citizen who is twenty years OF
age has the right of voting, and any voter
not 2 CLERGYMAN is eligible The Council